Rotary engine



3 Sneets-Shet l.

(NoModeL) J. LSTARKS. ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 274,669. 4maimed Mar. 27, 18.83.

(No Modei.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. LSTARKS.

` ROTARY ENGINE. No. 274,669. l Patented Mar. 27,1883.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. L. STARKS.

RoTARY ENGINE..

Patented Mar.27,1883.

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` UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.,

JOHN L. STARKS, OF SHARON GROVE-KENTUCKY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

VSPIE()IFIGA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,669, dated March 2'?, 1883.

" Application filed January 29,1883. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that I, J. L. STARKS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Sharon Grove, in the county of Todd and State of Kentucky, haveinven ted a new and useful Rotary Engine, of ,which the following is a specification, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings.

Thisinvention relates to rotary engines; and it consists in certain improvements in theconstruction of the same, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. A

Figurel is aperspiective view of my improved rotary engine. Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a vertical `sectional view taken longitudinall y through the axle. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View on the line m .fr in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side view, the covering-plate of the cylinder having been removed. Fig. 6 is a side view of the opposite side, the eccentric plate having been removed. Fig. 7 is a detail view, in perspective, of the valve mechanism; and Fig. 8 is a detail view, in perspective, of one of the pistons and its operating mechanism.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A represents a stationary tubular shaft, which is mounted in suitable frame-work supporting the machine. Firmly keyed or otherwise secured upon the said shaft is a disk, B, the sides of which have annular grooves C O. From the disk B projects the abutment D, which is properlyshaped so as to t in the groove in the cylinder, as will be presently described. The disk B is provided with perforations or openings E F on opposite sides, extending through and communicating with the interior of the shaft A, which is screwthreaded at this point, as shown at G.

H is thecylinder,which consists of two plates, l I, secured together by bolts J, or in any suitable manner. The plates I I are provided with outwardly-projectinglugs K K, between which are bolted the arms L L ofa rim, M, forming `a complete band-wheel or pulley, which is thus made to form an integral part of the engine.

The central parts or hubs, N, of the plates I I are grooved and tongued on their inner sides,

ton gued together at their outer ed ges, as shown at P,'or suitable packing of any kind may be used in order to insure tightjoints. The inner l.adjoining sides of the plates I I are 'provided -with annular grooves Q Q, encircling the hub,

together, and forming passages in which the y l piston-plates S S may slide radially inwardly until they reach the hub N, and outwardly until clear of the bore or passageQ. The pistonplates, which must be ttted and packed nicelyV in their respective grooves, are provided with outwardly-extending arms or rods T, extending through perforations inthe rim ofthe cylinder, and carrying cross-heads U', which are mounted so as to slide upon guide-:rods V, connecting the rim ofthe cylinder with the rim M. The cross-heads U have inwardly-extending arms W, the'inner en'ds of which are pivoted by pins X to the inner ends of arms Y, pivoted to the inside of the rimM on diametrically opposite sides of the latter. The heads` of the pins K project outwardly, and may be provided with friction-rollers Z. In order to mount the cylinder in a steam -tight mannerupon the shaft A, and to provide bearings for 'the same in which wear may be readily compensated for, so as to prevent leakyjoints, the bearing-surfaces of the hubs N of plates I are made slightly conical or tapering, as indicated at A2, so as to fit upon conical tubular sleeves' B2, which are screwed upon the shaft A, as shown. 'Ihe outer ends of the sleeves B2 are squared at G2, so that they may be readily tightened up by means of an ordinary wrench,

.lugs or studs G2. In the inner plate, F2, is

cut the -eccentric groove H2, which receives the friction-rollers upon the ends of the pins X, thereby serving through the intermediate mechanism to operate the piston-plates and ,regulate their throw. By this construction of the eccentric plate it may be more easily-and accurately made than by casting, andthe fricforked end of a rod,'J2, by means of which it two diagonal passages, one of which, E3, connects its lower or inner end with vone of its sides, while the other passage, F3, connects its otherside withits upper or outer end, as clearlyshown in the drawings.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description,

f taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. Steam is admitted into the end of the shaft A opposite to the end in which the valve-rod is inserted, as indicated in the drawings by means of an arrow. The valve may be turned so as to bring its vpassages and F3 in connection with the openings E and F, respectively. The steam will then enter at the port or passage E, expand between the abutment and one of the piston-plates, which at the time occupies the bore in the cylinder, and cause the latter to revolve. By the time the rst piston-plate reaches the port F, where the steam exhausts, the second piston-plate has entered the bore in the cylinder and forms the resistance to the steam. The engine may be reversed by simplyturning the valve so as to bring its passages E3 and F3 in connection with the ports F and E,vrespectively or the engine may be stopped by so turning the valve as to present its solid or imperforate sides to cylinder, and carrying cross-heads sliding upon guide-rods which connect the cylinder with the rim or band, arms extending` inwardly from the said cross-heads, arms pivoted to the inside of the rim on diametrically-opposite sides of the latter, pivot-pins connecting the latter arms with those extending from the crossheads, and carrying friction-rollers, and an eccentrically-groovd plate arranged to guide the said rollers, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary engine constructed substantially as described, the herein-described eccentric plate, consisting of a solid plate mounted upon the shaft, and another plate secured upon the inside ofthe former by means of intermediate lugs or studs, and having the eccentric groove of the desiredoutline, substantially as set forth.

3.' In a rotary engine, the combination,with

the tubular shaft having an interior screwthreaded portion, of the valve, consisting of an exteriorly-t-hreaded tubularcylindermounted upon a forked or bifurcated rod, and having diagonal passages connecting its ends with its opposite sides, substantially as set forth.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination of a stationary tubular shaft having exteriorlythreaded sections, the revolving cylinder mounted upon the said shaft, and consisting of plates bolted together in contact with an abut ment-plate secured iirmly upon the shaft, and having hubs the bearing-surfaces of which are slightly conica-l, and the conical interiorlythreaded sleevesindepen den tl y adjustable upon the threaded sections of theshaft, and forming the bearings for the revolving cylinder, substantially as set forth. 5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a stationary tubular shaft having an interiorlythreaded section, a plate mounted securely upon the said shaft and carrying the abutment, and having ports or passages connecting its opposite sideswith the interior threaded por itis adj usted in the interiorly-threaded portion y of the shaft, which is also the steam-pipe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Lrr'rnnsnnnr' srARKsl Witnesses:

WM. BRYAN, ELvrs A.' HAIL. 

